Romans 12: 1 – 2 (NIV)Living Sacrifices 1)Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual (reasonable) act of worship. 2)Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I don’t know about you, but whenever I’ve read this passage in the past, I have wondered exactly what it means to offer my body as a living sacrifice because this is my reasonable act of worship. I didn’t understand the ‘reasonable’ part or the ‘spiritual act of worship’ part, until my pastor described it in terms I could understand. It is reasonable to expect to receive what has been paid for. I don’t purchase a new pair of shoes, and then leave them in the store.

As an employer, I expect my employees to earn their wages. That is why I pay them. If I hire a contractor to do a specific job, I expect him/her to complete it, and to give me what I’ve paid for. When I purchase an item, no matter the cost, I expect to get my money’s worth. Is that not reasonable?

God bought and paid for me with the blood of His only Son. He owns me. Is he getting His money’s worth? He invested the life of His only son. What am I doing for Him on a daily basis? There is nothing I can do in this world to repay Him, but the strange thing is, He doesn’t want repayment, God wants me and my service. Does He have it?

Now that I understand this concept, and my mind has been renewed with this understanding, I can do what God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will is in my life.

Dear Father, Thank You for your great sacrifice for me. Help me to understand how you would use me today. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.